Abstract

Background: Anemia is widely prevalent in general and also in prospective blood donors with varying rates of prevalence at different places resulting in substantial loss in the blood donor pool.
Objective: This study was conducted to observe the prevalence of anemia and its associated demographic risk factors in apparently healthy individuals registered as blood donors.
Materials and Methods: Blood donor records from August 2015 to July 2016 were analyzed retrospectively at the blood bank of Shri Ram Murti Smarak Institute of Medical Sciences, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh to observe the prevalence of anemia and its associated demographic risk factors in the prospective blood donors for which Pearson’s Chi-squared test was applied, and odds ratio (OR) was calculated using Microsoft Excel 2007 and statistical software - VassarStats. P < 0.05 at 95% significance level was considered statistically significant.
Results: Among 6273 blood donors registered, 2 prevalence of anemia was 25.75% overall, 25.31% in males and 38.03% in females (χ = 17.4, OR = 0.532), 27.56% in rural 2 and 22.50% in urban donors (χ = 19.33, OR = 1.311), 27.11% in donors below senior secondary, and 22.93% in donors 2 above senior secondary education level (χ = 12.65, OR = 1.251). Males <30 years had significantly less chance of anemia 2 than males above 30 years (χ = 4.27, OR = 0.884). Results were statistically significant at 95% significance level. In Hindu and Non-Hindu donors, prevalence was 25.81% and 24.88%, respectively. In replacement, family replacement and voluntary donors the prevalence rate was 25.14%, 27.03% and 24.39%, respectively. No statistically significant association for anemia with respect to religion and donor category was found. Conclusion: Anemia in healthy prospective blood donor population requires urgent attention for its prevention and control for retention of the blood donor pool.